Lee George, Clough Oliver T, Walker Joseph A, Anakwe Raymond E
Department of Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Praed Street, London, UK.
Department of Surgery, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, UK.
Patient Saf Surg. 2021 Mar 12;15(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s13037-021-00284-8.
We undertook a prospective qualitative survey to ascertain the perceptions and experience of National Health Service patients in the United Kingdom who underwent planned or elective procedures and surgery at alternate 'clean' hospital sites during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These alternate 'clean' hospital sites were independent hospitals running active staff and patient testing programmes for COVID-19 and which did not admit or treat patients suffering with COVID-19.
A prospective survey was undertaken to include patients at least 30 days after a planned surgery or procedure conducted at a 'clean' alternate hospital site during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted using structured interviews undertaken by trained assessors. A 20% sample group of patients were randomly selected to participate in this study. Qualitative data related to confidence, safety and perceptions of safety were collected.
Ninety-five patients (60%) reported that they had prior worries or concerns about undergoing an elective procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 47 patients (30%) had delayed their surgery at least once because of these concerns. A total of 150 patients (95%) felt that the precautions in place to protect their safety in the setting of an alternate 'clean' hospital site were well thought out and proportionate. Patients reported high levels of confidence in the measures undertaken. Separation of patient pathways using the independent sector and patient testing were identified by patients as having the greatest impact on their perception of safety.
Patient confidence will be key to ensuring uptake of planned and elective procedures and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceptions of safety will be key to this confidence and efforts to demonstrably enhance safety are well received by patients. In particular, patients felt that a dedicated programme of patient testing and separation of patient pathways provided the greatest levels of confidence in the safety of their treatment.
我们进行了一项前瞻性定性调查，以确定在2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间，在英国国家医疗服务体系（NHS）接受计划内或选择性手术及操作的患者，在备用“清洁”医院场所的感受和经历。这些备用“清洁”医院场所是独立医院，实施针对COVID-19的在职员工和患者检测计划，且不收治COVID-19患者。
进行一项前瞻性调查，纳入在COVID-19大流行期间于备用“清洁”医院场所接受计划内手术或操作至少30天后的患者。该研究通过由经过培训的评估人员进行的结构化访谈开展。随机抽取20%的患者样本组参与本研究。收集与信心、安全及安全认知相关的定性数据。
95名患者（60%）报告称，他们此前对在COVID-19大流行期间接受选择性手术或操作感到担忧。共有47名患者（30%）因这些担忧至少推迟了一次手术。共有150名患者（95%）认为，在备用“清洁”医院场所采取的保护其安全的预防措施经过深思熟虑且适度。患者对所采取的措施信心十足。患者认为利用独立部门和患者检测来区分患者路径对他们的安全认知影响最大。
患者信心对于确保在COVID-19大流行期间接受计划内和选择性手术及操作至关重要。安全认知对于这种信心至关重要，而切实加强安全的努力受到患者的广泛认可。特别是，患者认为专门的患者检测计划和患者路径区分让他们对治疗安全最有信心。
